The Only Sons’ latest album Steel Hearts is like a punch in the face. You kind of see it coming but it still hits you hard. It’s predecessor, Young Lungs, showed flashes of things to come, and on Steel Hearts, the Only Sons deliver the knockout blow. Who are the Only Sons? You may remember the band Ribbonpigeon? TDR has posted about them before (couple posts down). Well, Ribbonpigeon is now known as The Only Sons. They’ve just released their new album Steel Hearts and have posted it to their website for you to download for free. Physical versions of the album will be available from Sophomore Lounge Records in June.
Steel Hearts is a collection of twelve songs which mines much the same Alt-Country/Americana territory as Young Lungs while remaining fresh and honest. Lead singer Kent Goolsby explains it thusly: “It’s really meant to be a companion piece to Young Lungs – kinda like brothers.” Like Young Lungs rowdy brother, Steel Hearts picks up right from where “Lowlands” fades out with the band in full country-rock/Americana mode with the opening track “Lay Back Down” and through out much of the album. The guitars may be out in full force on tracks like “Been Gone,” “Drew Blood” and rousing closer “We Will Get By,” the Only Sons still can slow it down with the best of them on “Taking Your Time with My Love” and “Stranger Here Myself.” On “Troubled One” the Only Sons are joined by fellow Murfreeboroian Joey Kniser of Glossary (see below for a tone.deaf.rambler exclusive acoustic version of “Troubled One”).
Goolsby’s raspy vocals are warm and welcoming as he sings lines like, “And I’ve been searching all day for a night like this/And I just don’t know when to call it quits” from “Been Gone” or “Took your troubles to the county seat/With half a mind to die and the other half to drink/And all the courage that you thought you had/You left at the bottom of the Budweiser can” from “Loneliness is on my Side”. The dual electric guitar interplay throughout the album, played by Goolsby and Mike Burgess (guitarist/lap steel), combined with the sold backing of bass (Jonathan Merritt) and drum (Blake Loftis) lead to a more upbeat and rocking album then one familiar with the band might expect. Don’t worry the cries of lap steel and fiddle (Andrew Mosiman) as still in there too.
On Steel Hearts the Only Sons play with the confidence of a tight-knit band. They know they’re good. They want you to know it too.
Standout Tracks: “Been Gone” & “We Will Get By”
+++HIGHLY RECOMMENDED+++
DOWNLOAD Troubled One (Acoustic)
Promo Video 1:
Promo Video 2:
Promo Video 3:
